BLACKSHEAR — Ware County head coach Jason Strickland informed Rotary Club members his team is having to overcome obstacles as the Gators prepare for the 2024 season.
The injury bug has hit the program pretty hard during the summer with as many as six potential starters missing time and several requiring surgical procedures.
“It’s been kind of ironic all season and summer for us because we’ve had a bunch of injuries and typically, we don’t deal with injuries in the summer,” Strickland said during the Tuesday, July 30 luncheon at the Okefenokee Country Club. “It’s just been one of those summers, that coaching-wise, we look in the mirror and go, ‘gee whiz, what do we do?’
“It’s been interesting trying to get our horses to the race all healthy. We (coaches) feel like the group we’re going to run out there is going to be an exciting group to watch play football. But, we’ve got to get this black cloud off of us. So please, we welcome all prayers.”
Strickland, who is one win shy of 150 victories for his career, said last year’s disappointing campaign (8-4) after winning the 2022 state title left a bitter taste inside the program.
“When we got back in January,” the veteran coach said, “the young men in our program made a commitment to themselves and to us as coaches that some of the things we dealt with last year are not going to be an issue this year. We have an incredible group of locker room police and a group of young men who have done everything they can to hold each other accountable.
“This is a close knit group which reminds me of the 2022 group. I’m not saying they’re going to play that far (championship game) and do all those type things. But, this current group does remind me of that group.”
Strickland talked about the challenging 2024 schedule for his club starting with Friday’s (August 9) home scrimmage against Brunswick High through the season-ending November 1 matchup at Wayne County. All 10 opponents in the regular season participated in the state playoffs.
The Gators kick off the regular season August 16 at Appling County, followed by an August 23 date at defending Class 5A champion Coffee.
Four home dates follow with Bainbridge first up August 30, Bartram Trail of St. Augustine, Fla., visits September 6, Lincoln High of Tallahassee comes to town September 20 and Benedictine invades September 27 in the region opener.
Ware County goes to New Hampstead October 4 and defending Class 4A state champion Perry October 18 after an open date. Warner Robins comes to town October 25 in the regular season home finale followed by the trip to Jesup.
“It’s going to be a schedule that if you’ve ever wondered, ‘am I getting my money’s worth on a Friday night?’ yes, yes you are,” said Strickland. “I won’t have to motivate our guys because they know who is standing on the other side. The scary part of it is, if you don’t play well, it’s not that you just get beat you’ll get embarrassed.
“They all are really, really well-coached football teams with incredible talent. How do you think region- winning programs from around the state are feeling about matching up with the fourth seed from our region in the playoffs? We could possibly have three teams reach the semifinals.”
As for the coaching changes, the biggest is at defensive coordinator with Ross Couch taking over for Will Winston, a mainstay on Strickland’s staff the past 15 years.
“This is a complete defensive overhaul as far as our scheme,” Strickland said. “ I’m used to what we’ve been doing for the last 15-16 years defensively. We make minor tweaks, but for the most part it has been the same scheme and same coverages in the secondary.
“Coach Couch’s scheme is a very multiple look. Every play is a different alignment with a different coverage in the secondary. So, it’s been it’s been fun for me to learn something new. It’s also been an adjustment to look out and see something and wonder why are we doing this and get an explanation.
“It has given me a chance to continue to grow as a head football coach. Getting new guys in with their ways of doing things and then feeling comfortable enough to challenge the ways we’ve done things in the past has been fun ... it’s been exciting. I can’t wait to watch it once we’re on the grass.”
Ware County head coach Jason Strickland spoke at the Rotary Club luncheon detailing what to expect from his squad. Photo By RICK HEAD
